SEES snapped to the stairs when they heard Junpei came down to the lounge the next day.

"Junpei, you okay?" Yukari asked.

"Well… I've been better." Junpei went into the kitchen.

Since he didn't say anything else, SEES let him be.

"Ayy, I definitely didn't expect you!"

Junpei turned around. "Oh, Ryoji. Hello."

"Hello indeed. Do you know it's Sunday today?" Ryoji joined him at the railings on the school rooftop. "I have found you. Anything to say before being sent to the guards?"

"You sneaked up here too." Junpei smiled. "So I won't tell."

The view from the school rooftop was always the best no matter the season. The red had almost faded. Winter was right here. Ryoji really didn't expect to see Junpei today. The last time he saw Junpei was like, a week ago? "Are you okay now?"

"Kinda," Junpei said. "I won't lie, I felt pretty shitty. But now it's not too bad."

"That's good then." Ryoji didn't trust himself to talk more, or he would say all the rude things about death being normal and expected and lay in wait for all living things. He hated himself for having this strong opinion about death. What had happened in his life he couldn't remember? Where did all these edgy ideas come from?

"Hey, Ryoji?"

"Yes?"

"Have you ever wondered where the deads go?"

"Huh…" Ryoji thought for a moment while looking at the sea. "I'm sure there is a place where souls gather, waiting to be reincarnated."

Junpei's grip on the railing tightened slightly. "Is it selfish… If I think a dead person is, well, still with me instead of going to that place?"

Ryoji shook his head. "No, I think... That person might be waiting for you or watching over you. You can believe whatever. It shouldn't be wrong."

"... I always feel like you are my friend." Junpei frowned. "How should I put this… friend of friends? like you are supporting people I care about... You'll be there, and I just know."

"I'll be there." Whatever that means. Ryoji gave him a smile.

Junpei grinned, still a little sad but he's okay. "It's almost lunch. Wanna go to Wild Duck?"

Minato saw Ryoji exited the dorm before he entered. Turned out Ryoji had been visiting the dorm when Minato was away for a while now and he never knew.

"He came here quite often," Junpei said. "You never ran into him here though, always coming back late at night and all."

Later, Junpei went back to his room and SEES gathered. They were discussing Junpei's mental state. He's improving. He no longer avoided them and started going to school.

"Having Ryoji-kun here really cheers him up," Fuuka said.

Yukari nodded. "Definitely let him keep coming, right?"

Ryoji should keep coming, everyone agreed.

...

Aigis was under the stairs. Minato stood next to her.

"I am jealous. More than I have ever been." Aigis looked down. "I am worried."

In human terms, was implied. Minato knew that.

"Junpei mentioned having Chidori with him. I wonder… If I am destroyed…" Aigis looked at him. "When I am destroyed, where do I go? What would be waiting for me?" She shook her head. "Logically, the answer is the dumpster."

"Aigis…?"

"I am a machine, so I cannot understand how it feels to live… or to die. I can only function until I am broken. There is no one who will remember Chidori the same way Junpei does. I would never have someone like that."

Minato was getting worried now.

"It shouldn't matter. I can protect what is not mine. I will make sure every one of you is safe. Good night, Minato."

Aigis headed up the stairs.

Minato didn't see her in the dorm tomorrow and the next day after. She always disappeared after the class ended. Perhaps she would come back in the evening.